Is it just us or did summer swing by faster than usual this time around? With August just around the corner, "Back to School" is the thing on everyone's mind. Well, if you're a student, parent or teacher at least.

It's almost time to swap bathing suits for books. And while you don't have to complete any tests or do any homework quite yet, we think now's the optimal time to get your mind juices flowing with our quick, 8-Question "Back to School" Survey. Don't worry: No matter the answer, we'll give you an "A+" anyway.

Maybe when tablets become shatter proof. Also, it'd be much easier to get distracted using a tablet. With a textbook at least you're forced to stare at the content, but with tablets there are tons of other apps.

I think that we should still have workbooks but I think that we should have our textbooks online and we should have a tablet or NetBook for taking notes and to look up our textbooks. In Noblesville Indiana we are allowed phones in classrooms but some teachers don't like the policy so they have the right to say that they don't wont phones in their classroom, if you get caught texting in class you get in a lot of trouble. We are also allowed almost all electronic devices.

I would love the idea of kids being able to take notes in their books and keep them. I also think that there should be a refundable fee paid for books that discourage kids from destroying books during the school year.

I don't think that all paper books should be replaced. I, for one, love being able to hold the actual book in my hand and be able to physically turn the pages. However, I don't get that same joy out of holding 10 pound text books.

If we change out books for technology then we're just getting straight out lazy. There's no other emporering experience like opening a book and reading it. Technology has to much control over education these days , what happend to teachers actualy teaching our kids? Now they just tell them to get out a laptop and read the lesson. No That behavior is unacceptable. I vote for text books, and handwritten test's. Thats how we began and thats how it should stay.

Absolutely not! We are rearing an entire generation totally dependent upon technology. What if technology fails? There is something to be said for holding a book in your hand and turning the pages as you read it. There is a lot to be said for the more permanence of books vs an e reader or tablet. I lugged my books about and it did not kill me. Besides books are less likely to get stolen as opposed to electronic devices!

I like the idea of a tablet textbook, but I also like having a written textbook. I feel tablets containing textbooks are more of a personal preference and should be optional for each student depending on their personal preference and what they can afford.

It would be a lot better on student's backs, than the present backpacks loaded with books! I foresee a time where students will get tablets with the subjects pre-loaded on them, so they can be used to ONLY study with. On exam days, students could not bring them into the classroom, or there could be a signal to turn off that particular subject matter. But, it's coming, I think...

Less paper right? You know what would be even better?
If teachers actually got to write their own curriculum instead of copying from a textbook? Why do Americans who are so "independent" have to follow so many things?

The written word is not as easily changed as the eword and therefore I believe there always needs to be a written hard copy somewhere for reference purposes. The right hacker could very easily rewrite history for instance and change some very important facts. Could you imagine if someone started teaching that there was never a Holocaust? That's sarcasm people, you need to recognize.

For the basic classes such as english grammer, mathematics, social science, and; to a lesser extent; science, and most business education courses, printed textbooks have seen their day. New technology is the only way to fly for these classes. When it comes to the trade classes, such as agriculture, industrial arts, homemaking, and also, humanities classes such as art, music, and acting, and maybe a few science classes, new technology will not quite fill the bill here. In such cases as these, it is still too complicated to subplanthard copy textbooks with the new technology at the present time. All of these classesmandate a certain type of hands on approach that frequently neccessatates a hard copy textbook. While modern technology can very effectively suppliment the use of hard copytextbooks, when it is applied judiciously, it can't very effectively replace them at the presenttime. Also PE and atheletics, both of which have always made, at best, only minimal useof printed textbooks will unlikely be able to benefit anymore than minimally from the new technology either.

Gee what happens when the thing crashes or is ripped off then what you just go without textbooks for the semester? What of the students who can't swing the money for a tablet oh let me guess the Feds/state or city will just cough up the cash?

During my teaching career, textbook prices increased dramatically.( I can only imagine what they cost now.) But students had no respect for them, and they came back in terrible condition, if at all. I think school districts would save much needed $ if they could use ebooks, and they could probably get new editions every year. Students are used to digital technology, so they would have no trouble using them, and an e reader would be so much easier to carry than a huge book bag. Homework could be done online and submitted as soon as completed. I think it's a great idea.